As the public sector looks to repurpose its estate, the disposal of historic buildings presents a unique opportunity. From converting commercial heritage into 600,000+ new homes to community-led restorations like Bramley Baths, discover what makes a successful "new future" for old buildings.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is more than administrative streamlining; it is a strategic catalyst. By aligning public sector assets with institutional capital and planning reform, authorities can move beyond "administrative neatening" to drive long-term economic transformation.

As property development viability faces a "classic trap" of high costs and sticky debt, the old playbook no longer works. Alex McKinlay, Head of Public Sector Land at Savills, explains why the shift toward long-term public-private partnerships—fusing public land with institutional capital—is the most credible route to unlocking regional growth and housing delivery in 2026.

Thirty years ago, I was made redundant from a commercial practice in Norwich. What followed was a second journey that took me from a private office overlooking the Cathedral to a career in local government and a long-awaited academic victory.

While councils have long established centralized procurement, contract management remains largely devolved. Natalia Silver explores the changing landscape, the impact of the Procurement Act, and how the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) is driving value and culture change across local authorities.

To meet the UK's goal of delivering 1.5 million homes, local authorities must move beyond simple numerical targets. By aligning housing delivery with demographic realities—such as the 33.8-year average age of first-time buyers and an ageing population—councils can create sustainable communities that support both economic growth and social wellbeing.

Local Government Reform often focuses on finance and staffing, but sidelining property professionals early on is a critical mistake. Discover why property experts are the foundational strategic partners needed to turn ambitious unitary authority plans into realistic, financially sound realities.

Local authorities currently control over £41bn in property assets, but high borrowing costs and geographic restrictions have brought new acquisitions to a standstill. As LGPS pooling nears completion and market sentiment improves, we look at why the "stalemate" in regional offices and shopping centers may finally break in late 2026.

The long-standing approach to local authority asset revaluation is facing its biggest shift in years. As CIPFA/LASAAC moves from viewing indices as optional tools to making indexation effectively mandatory, valuers and accountants must now navigate new requirements for quinquennial cycles, desktop revaluations, and the challenges of selecting appropriate indices.

As Build to Rent moves from a niche market to a vital housing solution, the sector faces a landscape of legislative clarity in England and strategic reversals in Scotland. This article examines the critical need for public-private collaboration to unlock the 64,000 consented homes currently stalled in the UK pipeline.

Regen Partner’s Healthy Living Hub model offers a sustainable solution to the UK housing and social care crisis. By combining multi-generational extra care housing with wellness facilities, this model helps councils reduce hospital admissions and social care bills while protecting public capital.

With the 2026 Rating List approaching, property professionals must prepare for significant shifts in business rates. From a 19.2% increase in total Rating List value to new multipliers for the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, Chris Grose provides a comprehensive rundown of the upcoming implications for both public and private sector bodies.

Councils are facing a "crowded list of priorities" as they balance severe funding pressures with national mandates for housing and net zero. This summary of the 2026 "Unlocking the Public Estate" report explores practical steps for local authorities to transform their portfolios despite limited capacity and data gaps.

Fewer than 40% of local planning authorities have up-to-date plans. As the government pushes for faster plan-making alongside local government reorganisation, Nick Diment examines if these two objectives can be reconciled without compromising quality.

Kim Grieveson of Avison Young led an ACES National Conference panel discussing how to attract and retain young talent in public sector real estate. The discussion, featuring voices from academia and local government, highlighted barriers like the "local authority badge" perception and suggested solutions like ACES-coordinated university presence, promoting work-life balance and work breadth, and the development of pan-local authority graduate schemes.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced a new "failure to prevent fraud" corporate criminal offense, effective September 1, 2025. Legal experts Emma Tubb and Daniel Irving review the strict liability offense, which applies to large organizations (including public bodies) that fail to prevent an associated person from committing fraud to benefit the organization. The article outlines the six guiding principles for implementing reasonable fraud prevent

Kate Deakin, Director of Apprenticeships at the University of the Built Environment (UBE), explains how degree apprenticeships are future-proofing government expertise by combating skills shortages. UBE's flexible, fully online, accredited programs—which lead to professional recognition like RICS membership—are being used by departments like the VOA and Ministry of Defence to build in-house talent pipelines, increase diversity, and align workforce skills with national priorit

An anonymous "insider" explores the government’s dual plan for devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England, which aims to create new Mayoral Authorities and Unitary Councils. The article focuses on the critical, practical impact these changes have on property professionals, detailing key challenges like property asset transfer, system updates, and preparing for the Structural Change Order.

Malcolm Williams, ACES Course Coordinator, recounts the successful evolution of the Diploma in Strategic Asset Management, a collaboration between ACES and CIPFA now in its eleventh iteration. The article features an interview with recent graduate Graham Tombs of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, who praises the course for shifting his mindset from operational fixes to using assets as strategic enablers for better public service outcomes.

Richard Allen, a former ACES President, questions whether Community Asset Transfer (CAT) is a policy "inherently destined to fail," given the struggles of high-profile cases like the Lenton Centre and St Ann’s Allotments in Nottingham. He argues that while CAT is vital for community empowerment, success hinges on robust local authority support, long-term leases, and addressing the growing challenge of volunteer shortages in community groups.